The batteries inside the most anticipated plug-in had a humble beginning

Chevy Volt

No, we're not a business magazine, but this story on Xconomy about how battery-developer A123 Systems jumped from a university lab into a potential powerhouse is pretty fascinating. The company, which has been contracted to provide the batteries for Chevrolet's Volt line, and also provided the power system behind the Atlas rope ascender we wrote about last year, essentially switched the core technology it was developing in its first two years. This is a major no-no in the startup world. A123 had promised its investors—who were pouring in lots of cash—a revolution, and then changed how they planned to bring it about mid-stream. The wild part, though, is that it looks like they're still going to succeed.

Want to keep track of the latest concept cars, automotive innovations, and more? Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

0 Comments


138 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Innovation Challenges



Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page



Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed


February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif
bmxmag-ps